Thursday, September 16, 2010

How is it we view a doctor as God until he provokes us and then he’s a quack?

How is it we tell our children to be honest yet when we break the law or lie, our choices are exempt?

How is it we endorse a professional athlete, a role model for our children to aspire ... picture perfect being the best at his game, having a beautiful wife and children, all the toys he could ever want; overnight he went from fame to shame?

How is it we trust our priest later learning his ‘secret’ of molesting children is hidden by the church?

How is it with our military being the most powerful country in the world, the superiors’ credo: “Don’t ask, Don’t tell”?

How is it we choose to look the other way … and continue to indulge ourselves with beverages and foods having high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), an ingredient proven to be addictive, causing weight gain/obesity, possibly diabetes and a multitude of other illnesses?

How is it we put the author on a pedestal for teaching personal responsibility and authenticity, upon learning the author lives a double life, we judge?

How is it when our children achieve something good we take the credit, yet the times they mess up we’re not up for taking the failure?

How is it some of us label police officers with slang or profane names until we need them to protect us?

How is it we let our children idealize entertainers and reprimand them for being disrespectful, blasting their eardrums, or using drugs?

How is it when our prayers are answered, God is good, when they aren’t, God punishes?

How is it we have a job we hate yet we expect a good review and an increase in pay?

How is it some of us rally for higher taxes to support those who are dependent on food stamps … while we wait in the checkout line we become irritated as we witness recipients using their food stamps to purchase junk food, soda and are obese?

Each of us has one thing in common: we’re all human. And as humans, we have free will and are self-aware. “Self-awareness includes a recognition of our personality, our strengths and weaknesses, our likes and dislikes. Developing self-awareness can help us to recognize when we are stressed or under pressure. It is also often a prerequisite for effective communication and interpersonal relations, as well as for developing empathy for others.” (http://www.vtaide.com/lifeskills/self_awareness.htm)

As I began to write this article I thought it was headed one direction and as I continued to put words to paper the direction changed. It’s interesting to me how these articles take on a life of their own. Upon reading the list of “How is it?” I realized how literal each statement felt. Each a dichotomy – I began to ponder what dichotomies I have … and the effects.

Thoughts run rapid through our minds; I’ve read 100,000 thoughts a day… who has time to analyze (and change) their thoughts, emotions and behaviors; furthermore, who wants to? Answer: the person who wants a happier life. Releasing the dichotomy allows us to be congruent. Once we are congruent, we’re able to make better decisions. Suppose we’re in a job we hate –we are able to choose to leave it or find a way to make peace within ourselves to continue. This is forward movement.

Being human we have free will (choice) and self – awareness.

How is it life is like an onion? The outer layers are thick and strong while the center is sweet. Another dichotomy.